Grafter who keeps the Lions winning

26 March 2015 - 02:08 By Sbu Mjikeliso

Warren Whiteley does not have an adorning nickname like "Thor", nor does he have the bulldozing physique to warrant one. He is no style icon, has no fashionable facial hair like Duane Vermeulen, doesn't have the nimble feet of a Ryan Kankowski and is not idolised in the same way that Pierre Spies is.But no one has led his team's defensive cause in the way Whiteley has for the Lions on their Australasian tour, where they've mugged recent wins over the Blues and the Rebels. And the Johannesburg side are looking to do a number on the Reds in Brisbane tomorrow, too.Statistics put him at the top of the tackle count standings in Super rugby this season, with 89 hits in six matches. But the stats do not show commitment in the tackle or the desire to close your eyes and cling on for dear life when someone like Scott Higginbotham comes at you like a runaway steam train."I believe having your captain leading the tackle count galvanises the rest of the players to put their bodies on the line," Lions coach Johan Ackermann said."Players feel inspired when they see their captain tackle and carry the way Whiteley has done this season. He has the kind of influence that when he speaks, he backs up his actions."The character of the loose forwards is what has made them top defenders so far. They've got a high work rate and they get themselves in positions where they get involved in a lot of the defensive efforts. It shows that we have loose forwards that are willing to go the extra yard."If you break down the rest of the weekend's stats, you'll see that the rest of our pack worked hard as well," he said.Whiteley is not alone. He is ably assisted by Warwick Tecklenburg (75 tackles) Jaco Kriel and Derick Minnie.No one knows the names of the people that dig the minerals deep down at the core of the earth, but everyone can tell you where to find the finest gold and diamonds. That is what being a Lions loose forward feels like. It is all pickaxes and no glamour.The Lions completed 178 hits to the Blues's 70 when they snatched a 13-10 win in Auckland and put in 203 for the 20-16 win in Melbourne."Defensive coach JP Ferreira is doing great work in that department," Ackermann enthused."But defence can only work if players are putting their bodies on the line and working hard."Our loose and tight forwards do a lot of hard work to keep the defence intact."Hopefully, we can keep it up, because in Super rugby you must prepare to defend for at least half of the game."Harsh lessons have been learnt along the way. From conceding six tries in their first two games, the Lions trimmed that to one each in the showdowns against the Stormers and the Blues.Sure, they took three steps backwards in the 34-6 drubbing to the Crusaders, but they pulled the oars back to shore last weekend...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.